Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

46 reviews

furaleii's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

If you love a story about female rage, misogynistic assholes getting what's coming to them, and a beautiful mix of violence, the macabre, and nature, you'll probably love this book. I know I did!

The beginning of the book was pretty creepy, though it quickly stopped becoming creepy and almost became light-hearted in the middle. Slewfoot and Abitha have an adorable relationship, and the kids (Sky and Creek) are goofy, to the point where some of their antics made me laugh (though idk if that was the intention). None of the violence particularly disturbed me, though it was very graphic and gross at time-- the nature and the way scenery is described was beautiful, and often the most bloody moments were intertwined with nature and magic; something I loved. The main character, Abitha, is the only woman who was stubborn and headstrong enough to openly go against the Puritan's beliefs in many of the things she did, and I loved that Edward was a secret book and drawing enjoyer. Slewfoot was ADORABLE. Kinda reminded me of a Duskwalker, from the Duskwalker bride series; violent from bloodlust, but not evil and just trying to figure out who he is/what his place is in the world.

The only time I truly disliked what was happening was (TW: Spoilers and animal abuse)

when Booka was killed by the Puritans; I can't read animal cruelty especially not towards cats, and I skipped many of the paragraphs that talked about it.

It was important to the plot, I guess, but I also just feel like it was mostly there for shock factor. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

honeygore's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This story definitely falls under the category of "good for her" I absolutely enjoyed every single second of this book with only one exception (animal death). Other than that it was twisted and gruesome and lovely! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Torture, Body horror, Bullying, Blood, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, and Gun violence

Moderate: Animal death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Colonisation

Minor: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Vomit, Sexual content, and Death of parent

klsreads's review against another edition

challenging dark funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book was not what I expected, but I had a fun time so ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.  The 1600's protagonist read like a modern woman, and the pacing was a bit odd. It is horror, so there is gore and explicit torture/violence. I was really excited for the last 20% of the book and it delivered. Beyond that, the discussions on ecocide and spirituality/religion really hit, as well as the rumination on the nature of evil. I loved the intermingling of Native American folklore, fairy tales, and Christianity.

Consider checking the cws/tws. The art in the book is super spooky and cool. I think it added a lot to the experience!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Blood, Murder, Police brutality, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Sexual content, and Colonisation

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

gudrqa's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

First part of the book was enjoyable and I'd rate it 4.5 even but then it started dragging out quickly. Not a lot of magic for a tale of bewitchery.

The problems for me started when it became a torture porn. The whole second part of the book felt like a kink. The constant mentions of hair and torture. A lot of it was repeated all the time. I either wish it wasn't so graphic/maybe less victims OR that it was more inventive.

 

I might've enjoyed it more if I didn't pick up an audiobook version. I didn't like the voices the lector was making.
I couldn't really care for the characters except one

the pastor's wife

. A lot of plot points didn't feel impactful enough. The main character never felt at risk really after the first two plot points

the beginning with the goat and then her husband's death. After that the first encounter with the Father happened and immediately we knew she would be safe with him.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Excrement, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death

vagrantheather's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It's listenable and I'm not mad about it, but I also don't love it. The dialogue splits the difference between readability and historical accuracy in a way that falls in the uncanny valley for me. It doesn't commit enough to feel real and instead comes off a bit cheesy. The narrator does a good job but something about the accent leans into the uncanny valley feeling. The historical accuracy also feels limited - at one point two guards make a joke about chastity belts, which ... they were kind of a myth/joke among gentry, but commoners? Pilgrims? Idk.

I don't really like the writing. It's fine. It isn't pretty, it isn't evocative, it isn't literary. Rather straightforward. The plot development is similarly straightforward; there is no mystery about the machinations of the other characters, no suspense. The perspective changes from character to character to allow us to know everything going on. The only questions are Sampson's true nature and what's Wallace's greater conspiracy with the magistrate. 

I don't love any of the characters, and I actively find the Wild Ones poorly done. Wallace is also too unlikeable to be a good villain.

The last 20% of the book switches genres to torture and revenge. I saw another reviewer say the first 80% was boring and she wanted the final 20% to have been the whole of it; I feel the opposite. The first 80% felt as though it could be building toward deeper themes, and the final 20% ripped it down and made "don't worry, she gets hers" the only theme. 

There are so many changes I would have liked to see. I want a deliciously wicked, literary version of this book. Not a young adult book about a pilgrim witch. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Murder and Animal cruelty

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

I really, really disliked Abitha's final death scene because why would a pagan god of death be mad about someone dying and want to resurrect them. Death is what they do. Death is a part of the circle of life. Death comes to us all, even he, who felt at peace in death. IMO it was a bad ending.

kelsilitts's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Overall an awesome story with a very satisfying revenge plot. Loved the main characters. Felt a very real hatred towards others (as I believe was intended.) I definitely had to skim over a few of the more gruesome scenes because they were a bit too much for my sensitive self. Especially one involving a cat. 

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to read more of Brom’s work in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Sexism, Torture, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

aubzilla's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

I loved the first half of this book, but it took a turn towards the end that I found really disappointing. It was so close to being exactly the kind of thing I want to read- light horror with a lovable and practical female lead and creative world building- but by the end I felt like the main character lost her lovable qualities.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Torture, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Colonisation, Violence, Child death, Gun violence, Racism, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Cursing

vneff22's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Blood

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

solarel's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

People suck. 

I’m conflicted a bit. While I enjoyed the main two characters, Abitha and Samson, I found the plot as a whole to be very… typical? 

Samson’s story was by far the most interesting plot line. I enjoyed watching him struggle to find who he really is. Is he the monster or the savior? Abitha however, her story felt not just predictable but inevitable. The last third of the book is pure torture porn, and she did not grow as a character. She is merely an instrument of a vengeance arc. 

I saw a lot of reviewers say this story was very white. And I think I see what they mean. I don’t know what the author’s religious background is, but this read as a very Christian framed story. People said this was a horror novel. I didn’t find it scary, only sad. People were the villain. Puritan culture was the villain. And yet it still felt like it was still validating their beliefs in the end with what was supposed to be the “horror”. 

I don’t know if that makes sense, but “pagan” aspects were not rooted in lore beyond that of Christianity. I guess that’s what made it feel like more of a fantasy masquerade of a pagan story of blurred good and evil. 

Stars for ambiance and entertainment only. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Torture, Xenophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Body horror, Colonisation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Violence, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

mariecaat02's review against another edition

dark mysterious

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Violence, Murder, Animal death, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Torture, and Self harm

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Cannibalism, Blood, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Self harm, Death, Classism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Murder, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death

Minor: Sexism, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Torture